Photo: Skoda
Subsequent to last month’s teaser, Skoda has stepped forward once again, putting the spotlight on its eighth student car and announcing that it will be named the Afriq.
Said to highlight the Dakar Rally and the brand’s activity in North Africa under the Volkswagen Group’s umbrella, the name was chosen by the 25 Vocational School students, who have teamed up with Skoda Motorsport to bring the show car to life.
“By naming the new Skoda student car Afriq and paying homage to the Dakar Rally’s roots on the African continent, the apprentices are also drawing attention to Skoda Auto’s newly assigned responsibility for the North Africa region,” said Skoda’s North Africa chief, Arwa Oeljeklaus. “As we have in India and Russia, we also want to apply our expertise to the dynamic growth regions in Africa so that we can efficiently leverage existing synergies for the Group.”
As we previously reported, it is based on the Kamiq, yet at 4,362 mm (171.7 in) long, it is 121 mm (4.8 in) longer. The wheelbase, however, was shortened by a mere 2 mm (0.08 in), to 2,649 mm (104.3 in). The Skoda Afriq will have two doors only and a beefed-up overall design, with muscular fenders, lowered roofline, and a big wing out back, teasers have revealed. The factory wheels were wrapped in off-road tires for enhanced traction.
Since the Kamiq is built around the MQB A0 platform, shared with the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Scala, among others, it features a front-engine and front-wheel drive layout. In all likelihood, the Afriq will remain front-wheel drive, unless Skoda’s students will use more elbow grease and somehow fit it with an all-wheel drive system, though we obviously wouldn’t hold our breath for one. Details surrounding the powertrain are unknown at the time of writing.
Skoda didn’t say when they will unveil the Afriq Concept, but since it will follow in the footsteps of the 2020 Slavia Roadster, 2019 Mountiaq, and 2018 Sunroq, as well as the Element, Atero, FUNstar, and CitiJet before them, we reckon that it will debut before the end of the year.
“By naming the new Skoda student car Afriq and paying homage to the Dakar Rally’s roots on the African continent, the apprentices are also drawing attention to Skoda Auto’s newly assigned responsibility for the North Africa region,” said Skoda’s North Africa chief, Arwa Oeljeklaus. “As we have in India and Russia, we also want to apply our expertise to the dynamic growth regions in Africa so that we can efficiently leverage existing synergies for the Group.”
As we previously reported, it is based on the Kamiq, yet at 4,362 mm (171.7 in) long, it is 121 mm (4.8 in) longer. The wheelbase, however, was shortened by a mere 2 mm (0.08 in), to 2,649 mm (104.3 in). The Skoda Afriq will have two doors only and a beefed-up overall design, with muscular fenders, lowered roofline, and a big wing out back, teasers have revealed. The factory wheels were wrapped in off-road tires for enhanced traction.
Since the Kamiq is built around the MQB A0 platform, shared with the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Scala, among others, it features a front-engine and front-wheel drive layout. In all likelihood, the Afriq will remain front-wheel drive, unless Skoda’s students will use more elbow grease and somehow fit it with an all-wheel drive system, though we obviously wouldn’t hold our breath for one. Details surrounding the powertrain are unknown at the time of writing.
Skoda didn’t say when they will unveil the Afriq Concept, but since it will follow in the footsteps of the 2020 Slavia Roadster, 2019 Mountiaq, and 2018 Sunroq, as well as the Element, Atero, FUNstar, and CitiJet before them, we reckon that it will debut before the end of the year.
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